David Ryan Harris. “Sounds like a law firm, tastes like analog tape,” says the soul singer/songwriter and guitarist. “I heard music, melodies and stories in my head as a child. It never went away and I hope it never does,” he says.
Born in Chicago and raised in Atlanta, David was drawn to the blues after hearing songs by Son House, Robert Johnson and others. Growing up at a time when Prince, Parliament-Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder and other musicians were stretching the boundaries of popular music, he began to understand that music could not and should not be limited by our often narrow views of what it should be.
In 1991, David co-founded Follow For Now, a band that combined all of the influences that had been shaping his musical vision: Bad Brains meets Stevie Wonder and Public Enemy in Memphis. While the band had a short life, it was David’s launching pad, as it allowed him to taste the fruits of such a strange mess of musical ingredients. He signed to Columbia Records in 1997, released a self-titled record and began to spread his wings as an artist, writer and producer. In 2000, he signed to Elektra with the band Brand New Immortals. Shortly after releasing an album, the label folded and the band followed suit.
Today, David Ryan Harris calls Los Angeles home, but is internationally recognized for playing guitar and singing in John Mayer’s band from 2004-2012. He has also had the pleasure of writing with, playing with and/or producing artists from Dave Matthews, Cassandra Wilson, Derek Trucks, Santana, Marc Broussard, and Guy Sebastian. Most recently, he produced and co-wrote six songs on Indie.Arie’s album, Songversation.
Since his major label days, David has independently released many singles and solo albums, including the wildly popular 2007 LP, The Bittersweet. On October 23, 2015, he released his fourth full-length album, Lightyears, which includes co-writes with Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Tyler Lyle and Joe Gil among others. The LP also features guest appearances by John Mayer, Indie.Arie and Nikka Costa. “Lightyears is me sending up a flare into the darkness from where I live,” says David. It’s a soulful look into my life. My past and how it informs my present. My sense of hope, my sense of humor.”
